BWI President and General Secretary meet workers at a Chinese MNC project in Maputo

21 October 2016 10:16

Maputo Bridge and the Accompanying Roads Project, a trunk highway extending from Maputo, capital of Mozambique, to the border of South Africa, is about 187km long. It is a suspension bridge with a 680m-long main span and 3km in total length, after completion, it will become the largest suspension bridge in Africa. The project is constructed under EPC model by China Road and Bridge Corporation.

The BWI President Per Olof Sjöö, the General Secretary Ambet Yuson, BWI AFRECO President Piet Matosa, accompanied by the Women Committee Chair for Africa and Middle East, Yngve and Niklas from SBTF Sweden and the General Secretary of SINTICIM Mozambique Jeremias Timana, met workers at Maputo Bridge and the Accompanying Roads Project on 14th September.

Choosing the opportunity of being in Maputo for the BWIAfrica and Middle East 3rd Regional Conference, the delegation of BWI paid a visit to the management of the Company at its office in Maputo where the project has been presented by an Officer in charge of health and safety, quality and environment.

The project is expected to employ more than 3,000 workers and SINTICIM has already organised around 1,000 members. An agreement has been signed on 13 September a day before the BWI delegation visit, for the white collar workers to join the union.

Per Olof Sjöö, Ambet Yuson and members of the BWI delegation had opportunity to discuss with Mozambican and Chinese workers on the site about working conditions and their rights to join the union. “I am very impressed to see a brave women tower crane operator in such a huge project. said Ambet Yuson while discussing with the young Antonietta, a lady of 24 years.

After the completion, the project will greatly strengthen the regional communications among Maputo, the southern cities and Ponta de Ouro, promote the economic and trade activities between cities, develop the local tourism industry and benefit the local people. At the same time, the southern accompanying road closely connects Mozambique to the Republic of South Africa, which facilitates the bilateral economic and trade contacts and effectively promote the economic development among relevant countries.